Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES...

PATENT OFt'Te 'ALBERT L. MILLER, or NEW. YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. l73,229, dated February 8,1876; application filed October 13, 1875. Y

tion of the draw-bar, whereby undue friction upon the same, by the pressure of the lockingpawl when the bar is movedv to and fro, is effectually prevented. The invention further comprises a novel combination of parts,whereby the easy and convenient release of the draw-bar to disconnect the cars when required is provided for. p

Figure 1 is a plan view of a car-coupler made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of thesame; and

. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of, the same, ta-

ken in the line a; x of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detached detail view, showing a portion of the same. p

A is the draw-head, formed with the flaring mouth A. In the throat a of this draw-head,

at the upper side thereof, is pivoted the locking-pawl B, the attachment of the pawl being such that its pivoted end bearsdirect upon the metal of the draw-head, as shown at a,

thereby giving greater firmness and rigidity to the pawl in its holding operation than would be possible if the strain were brought upon the pivot alone. The free end of the pawl isrounded or curved ona horizontal line, as indicated at a in Fig. 4. O is a flat spring, attached to the upper part of the draw-head behind the pawl B, and pressing down upon the latter. The office of this spring isto steady and hold the pawl in position under conditions of jar and disturbance that otherwise might dislocate the draw-bar herein presently de scribed from its proper position for draft or operation. D is a lever, of cam-like. or eccentric shape at its lower end, and pivoted to suitable bearin gs 12 upon the upper side of the draw-head. From'the cam-shaped lower end of this lever, through a hole, 0, in the upper side of the draw-head to the pawl B, is a chain, E, the disposition of those parts being such that, by turning or moving the lever in the requisite direction, the chain will be drawn upon the cam-shaped lower end of the said lever, and lift the pawl clear from the draW-" bar F, which is constructed as follows: Upon the upper side of each end of the straight-bar is a shoulder, f, the inner surface of which is concave on a curved horizontal line coincident with the shape of the free end of the pawlB, as represented more clearly in Fig. 4; ;also,

pawl B when the bar is pushed longitudinally beneath the same to'any material distance, as occurs, for instance, when the coupled cars are made to approach so nearly that the drawheads of the two cars are brought incontact.

The ribs or ridges g may-extend along the central as well as most of the end portions of the drawbar between the shoulders f; or they may be dispensed with at the middle part m, which is not liable to be brought underneath or in contact with the pawl.

It is, of course, tobe understood that the draw-head's A of the adjoining cars to be coupled are each to be provided with the pawl,

spring, actuating-levers, and chain, &c., form-.

ing essential elements of my invention, and attached to and arranged upon the draw-head in the manner herein set forth.

In the operation of the apparatus one end of the draw-bar is thrust into the tlarin g mouth 'A of the draw-head, and through the throat a,'until the shoulder f passes behind the pawl B, is brought beyond the pawl, which latter is then automatically depressed in front of the shoulder f in such manner as to hold against the said shoulder, and thereby retain the drawbar against withdrawal, and the two ends of the draw-bar, being in this manner connected with the draw-heads of two adjoining cars, couple the same together. Inasmuch as the draw-head is capable of longitudinal play beneath the pawl, it follows that the draw-heads of the two coupled cars may approach and come together in the ordinary way furthermore, that the ribs or ridges g, by presenting only a small surface in contact with the pawl during such movement of the draw-bar, effectually prevent any material friction upon the draw-bar, which might otherwise'interfere -2. The lever constructed with the cam-like or eccentric lower end, and the lifting-chain, in combination with the rearWardly-extendin g pawl provided Within the flaring draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' ALBERT L. MILLER.

Witnesses:

W. M. EDWARDS, H. WELLS, Jr. 

